Woman Who Stabbed Mother Found Not Guilty By Reason Of Insanity

WILMETTE, IL — A Wilmette woman who stabbed her mother at least seven times was found not guilty by reason of insanity Wednesday, according to court records.

Dinah Larson, 29, had been indicted on 12 felony counts, including charges of attempted murder, aggravated battery and aggravated domestic battery, following her Jan. 18, 2018 arrest.

Around 7 a.m. that morning, officers were dispatched to the home Larson shared with her parents in the 1900 block of Highland Avenue, according to police.

They found her 60-year-old mother covered in blood with multiple stab wounds. Her injuries were not considered life threatening at the time, though prosecutors said Larson broke off a piece of the knife while stabbing her mother, who was in bed at the time.

Larson was arrested about one block north, in the 2000 block of Washington, after running away from the house through the snow wearing bloody pajamas, authorities said at the time. She had stopped taking medications prescribed for bipolar disorder and schizophrenia prior to the stabbing.

In Illinois, "a person is not criminally responsible for conduct if at the time of such conduct, as a result of mental disease or mental defect, [she] lacks substantial capacity to appreciate the criminality of [her] conduct."

Under state law, people found not guilty by reason of insanity are evaluated by the Illinois Department of Human Services before being transferred into the agency's custody. The department has 30 days to report the results of its evaluation.

A hearing is then held to determine whether the person should receive inpatient or outpatient care or does not need further mental health services. Either form of commitment may be imposed for up to as long as the maximum sentence for the most serious crime for which a person has been acquitted, according to the law.

The next status hearing in Larson's case was set for Sept. 4.

Earlier:

• Wilmette Woman Charged With Mom's Stabbing To Remain Hospitalized
• Attempted Murder Charge Against Daughter In Wilmette Stabbing
• Daughter Stabbed Mom Multiple Times, Police In Wilmette Say